Day 17: Ludington, MI to Manitowoc,WI - 0 miles- Ferry Day! Wyatt Benjamin

This morning we woke up rested after our break day yesterday. We were excited knowing that today was going to be another 0 day. Even though we woke up early, we were mentally prepared for the day. We were debating whether to go to a diner, a bakery or a gas station for breakfast. Because we took too much time at our campsite,  the bakery and the gas station were the only choices. The road to the bakery was closed, so we went to the gas station. After having our gas station breakfast, we saddled up again, and took a short bike ride to the ferry.

Since day one, the boys have been looking forward to ferry day. Ferry day certainly lived up to its hype. After having a nice view off of the back of the boat, the ferry started. Everyone then went to the Xbox room, and took turns switching scenes on LEGO Star Wars. We changed the language to Arabic. This was as fun as it sounds. After playing Star Wars, the group went into the movie room to watch Jumanji 2. After a few minutes, some were sleeping, and some were watching. Needless to say, we did not spend much time in the movie room. 

We heard that there was going to be trivia in the main hall. So Blake, Hugh, Daniel G, Cole, Evan  and I went. There were 10 questions, and we got 8 of them correct. This put us tied at 1st place. For our tie breaker, we got an astrology question. Surprisingly, we got the answer correct. Unfortunately the other group did as well. Our second question was about colleges. We got the question right, and the other team didn’t! We won prizes for this.

After trivia, we played bingo. I did not win... Thanks to Nathan for making the bingo and trivia really fun!

After the ferry ended, we got to Wisconsin and past our first time zone. After we got settled in, we decided to test out the Lake Michigan waters. It was freezing.

For dinner we went to a restaurant called Bryan’s on York. It was really good. We had a contest at the pinball machine to see who could get the highest score. Sean was first, Cole was second, Wyatt was third.
Til next time...

Day 16: Grand Haven, MI to Ludington,MI - 0 miles (not counting shuttle van miles), Blake Hird

Today we got to have yet another late wake up, due to the fact of the crash yesterday. Which lead to the leadership decision of taking a zero day to help everyone recoup and get going after ferry day. We went to Panera bread for breakfast and had a quick briefing to clarify the upcoming logistics of our rides, which cleared some of the confusion on what our plans were after the rough day we had yesterday. After we headed back to the hotel, Evan arranged for a late checkout time of 12:00, which gave everyone time to pack up their panniers and get the bikes down to the lobby. We rented a 14 person van and we packed 4 bikes in with many panniers and two rows of seating for 6 kids, along with Mr Hird and Mr Malinchock . We used the van to shuttle the crew to the Ludington campsite. Mr Malinchock took the van back to Grand Haven to get Cole, Evan and Sean. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew checked out a cool beach about a mile away from the campsite. The beach was pristine with an amazing walk to a lighthouse on the water. We had a great time walking and looking at the great views from the island lighthouse. We walked back to a pizza place and some of the crew went back to camp. Wyatt and I stayed and got dinner. Overall, it was a good feeling to have a day off and realize how lucky we are that no one got hurt and we are able to push forward with our trip.

Day 15: South Haven MI - Grand Haven MI, 62 miles, Hugh Carbrey

Today we had a late wake up because it was expected to rain until 10 am. After waking up around 9, Max, Daniel P, Daniel G, Sean, and I went to breakfast at the Big Boys across the street from the hotel. This late wake up messed with most of our eating schedules because we are used to biking around 20 miles to breakfast. We were hungry for most of the day so we had a couple snack breaks throughout the day to refuel. We hustled to eat and get ready. We left the hotel around 10 and started off on rolling hills. Because there was a storm the previous night, there was a brutal headwind for most of the day. Early into the day there was a beautiful view of Lake Michigan and stairs that led to beach access. The water level is very high this year however, so the stairs basically led to the water. The waves were breaking at your feet, which was very cool. 20 miles in we had a brief Gatorade break to eat and drink.

After our Gatorade break we took a detour to go to a state park that had sand dunes and Lake Michigan access. We all frolicked on the dunes and beach. This detour involved a small hike, which was a nice change of pace from biking all day. We ended up spending around an hour at the state park. We decided to continue biking until Grand Haven where we would eat lunch and grab stuff for dinner then bike to our campsite 10 miles away.

We biked most of the day on a bike path directly adjacent to road. Because of this we would have to cross over the side streets often. However, during one of these instances, a car was turning left into a side street and didn’t look where she was turning. She came into the turn while a group of 8 neon clad cyclists with large panniers happened to be crossing the street. She barreled towards us at around 13 miles an hour, hitting both Max and Daniel Price. Both are relatively unharmed, with Max having minor scratches and bruises and Daniel not having any injuries. However, the frame on Max’s bike was bent, totaling it. Daniel cracked his helmet, so he had to get another one. After calling the police, the EMT was called to make sure that Daniel didn’t have a concussion and to check on Max. Then a full size fire truck pulled up, that did very little other than direct traffic. The policeman was very helpful and filled out an accident report for us. The driver of the car, an elderly woman, had to pay to either repair the bikes or get new bikes. We then were taken by the fire department to a local bike shop, Loose Spokes. Because of the frame damage on Max’s bike, he had to get a new bike. The only bike that fits our purpose and Max was a Masi bike, a very fancy Italian brand. With a promise that she would pay in hand, the decision was made to fix Daniels bike and for Max to get a new bike. However, when it was time for money to talk, the lady flaked out and became hard to reach for Mr. Hird and the bike shop owner. Currently, the new bike and the bike maintenance are being done by the Loose Spokes team despite not having been paid yet. After this debacle, we rented hotel rooms to allow the victims to recover. Some of us had dinner at a very filling Chinese takeout restaurant. The new bike and the repaired bike should be given to us tomorrow at 11:00, so there will be another late wake up for us.

Even though a lot of things are still in the air, we are thankful for all the first responders who responded to the scene and helped us handle the situation. We are also thankful that everyone walked away ok-a busted bike is much better than a busted rider.

Day 14: Albion, MI-South Haven, MI, 92 miles, Daniel Price

Today was our first day back on the road after our great rest day in Albion and it would be our longest day of riding so far. We woke up early to try and beat the heat but both Sean and I slept in 20 minutes past the original wake up call and had to rush to get packed up. Because of this quick packing I somehow forgot to grab my retainer and didn't realize until 28 miles into our ride (don't worry mom I called the lady that hosted us and she's shipping it home).

The second group had many other problems along the ride. My back wheel almost fell off, Wyatt's back light fell off, Blake's shifting cable broke, and Max and Daniel G both had panniers fall off mid-ride.

We stopped for breakfast at a small diner in Battle Creek, which was extremely cheap but also tasted great. We spent the majority of the ride on bike paths with quick stops for Gatorade and water refills along the way. We finished our ride in South Haven and had lunch in the most overpriced restaurant I've ever visited, not to mention the food was bad. Wyatt also left his wallet at the restaurant and didn't notice until almost an hour later.

While the second group was finishing the ride Evan, Cole and Sean worked on finding a place to stay. After finding nowhere with a reasonable price or adequate conditions for our group, we decided that it would be best to bike an extra 2 miles to a hotel so we could avoid the coming rain storm. 

After settling into our rooms all the boys went to the only open restaurant nearby which happens to be a Big Boy burger joint, that we quickly realized was meant for young kids and their families. The food was good and a mysterious man wearing a Jesus hat paid our bill without even knowing we were biking for a cancer foundation, so I guess it all worked it out. It was a very nice gesture from the kindness of his heart and we appreciate it a lot! We ended the day by getting some extremely large ice cream cones and relaxing in our rooms. Everyone is excited to sleep in tomorrow and the anticipation for ferry day is bigger than ever.

Day 13: Break Day in Albion, MI, 0 Miles, Cole Malinchock

Hi All, Happy Father's Day! It's Cole again and it's break day! After a nice night of rest, we woke up to the smell of a warm breakfast from Syd's kind neighbors. This helped us fuel up after a long week of riding and to be ready for the next few days of tough riding through Michigan.

After breakfast, we all took the time to take naps and clean up our bikes with the hose. We are very thankful for the canopy Scout Master Dave Huber from Troop 158 gave us to provide shade and shield us from the rain.

Although it rained and we were being eaten alive by the mosquitoes, our spirits were still high from the kind gestures of all the people in Albion, Michigan. Syd, along with many of her neighbors, gave us delicious empanadas with rice and beans. These kind actions from others continued throughout the day as many more neighbors dropped off food and donations for us.

For dinner, Jeff Williams, an former member of BSA Troop 845 in Carrboro, brought us a big dinner of tacos and flan! Following this, we wanted to give back to Syd for letting us camp in her yard, sit on her porch, and use her washer, so we helped pull some weeds in her back patio! It felt good to give back for everything she's done for us. We really appreciate all the kind‐heartedness from her and the whole town of Albion.

The thoughtfulness of people on this trip never ceases to amaze me! Whether it's a donation or just a little snack, we all really appreciate all of the support. It reminds me there's always a good in the world, even in some of the smallest of towns. Signing off for now, Cole Malinchock

Day 12: Sylvania OH- Albion MI, 79 miles, Sean Hankins

We woke today before the sun was up in order to escape the heat. We began packing at 5:15 and were ready to leave in a little less than an hour. Before departure, we thanked my mom for joining us on the ride, and my dad for setting up a campsite for us.

Our ride started slow and it took 25 miles to reach a small country grocery store for breakfast. Cole and I ate a lot of random food. I had a full red velvet cake, a ham sub, a large Red Bull, and pomegranate juice. Cole has a smoothie, a summer sausage, and a full lemon cake. The other member of our leading group, Evan, ate some food from the pastry bar and enjoyed the leftover lettuce from my sub.

We had a chill ride to a Gatorade break about 30 miles from our lunch. Due to a miscommunication, I was turning around near train tracks and got my front tire lodged inside. I had a small stumble but was able to bail from my bike before hitting the pavement. Our break made us realize the heat was rising, so we pumped out another few miles.

Our group enjoyed a small breakfast at a bar where I got two hotdogs (they were out of wings). We were only there for a short time before leaving. We arrived at our host’s house for the night early. A kind lady nicknamed “Syd” showed us where we could set up our tents and take a dip in the river. She has been an amazing host and got us an interview with a reporter along with some donuts from a local bakery. Once the remaining groups caught up to us, we took a dip in the river, then returned to the house for a shower and meal. We were given a pasta dinner from our host and another meal from the local pub. At this point, we are winding down for bed on a porch that has WiFi and electricity.

Until tomorrow, Sean Hankins

Day 11: Bellevue, OH - Sylvania, OH, 60 miles, Daniel Gulisano

Today we had another late start to the day, and started packing up. We all had a great nights sleep…engines braking from trucks, loud trains, and the bright lights. Luckily our spirits were still high because of the feast we had the night prior. We set off around 7:30am to breakfast, and stopped in Elmore for food.

I had poached eggs, an English muffin, and some hot cakes. As usual, I had plenty of time to digest because my associates needed to make an appointment in the restroom! The riding today was flat and not too windy, so we knocked out most of our miles pretty quickly. Unfortunately, a squirrel fancied the design of our new tires, and I firsthand got to test out my nonexistent suspension. I hope it’s okay! We soon got close to Toledo, and were allowed to observe an oil refinery visually and nasally.

As we got closer to Toledo, our route seemed to zigzag through neighborhoods that weren’t busy. We then proceeded to perform the bike trip take-a-lane-of-traffic-and-cross-a-busy-bridge move, which I must confess is one of my beloved favorites. Tonight we’re staying at a Boy Scout camp and Mr. Hankins is treating us to an evening filled with culinary delights.
Supper tonight consists of his world renowned BBQ. After supper, we’ll probably check in to the Hilton rather early tonight because we have a big day tomorrow. Daniel Gulisano signing off.

Day 10: Medina, OH - Bellevue, OH, 58 Miles, Max Hird

Today our patrol leader, Hugh, blessed us with a 7:30 wake up due to the low mileage requirement for the day. We packed up and were on the road by 8:30. By this time, the sun had been up for quite a while and we were not fortunate to have a cool start to the day like we usually do.

We stopped after about 20 miles in Hendersonville for breakfast at a diner. I had some pancakes, bacon, and toast. After breakfast, we knocked out nearly all of our mileage and only stopped once for Gatorade and bathrooms before arriving in Bellevue.

On our way to Bellevue, we got to ride next to a train for a few miles which I really enjoyed. We arrived in Bellevue around 1:30, our earliest ride yet, and pitched our tents. Tonight we are staying at the Bellevue Fire Station which has bathrooms, power, and water, the three essentials. Everyone washed up in the hose and got some snacks at the CVS across the street. We then chilled out for the remainder of the afternoon.

1st dinner! Thanks Bone Boys!!

This evening, both of my parents came for contingency day. My dad is planning to come on the next 2 weeks of the trip which is exciting. For dinner, not only did my mom bring burgers to grill and salad, but a restaurant called Bone Boys offered to give us some chicken legs, beans, and fruit so we had double dinner!

In between our two dinners, we all changed our back tires because they were becoming pretty worn down. Many tires exploded in the process, but eventually everybody managed to succeed. Everyone headed to bed ready to grind again.

Until tomorrow...

Day 9: Bowerston, OH - Medina,OH, 82 miles, Wyatt Benjamin

This morning we got to sleep in. Just kidding, another 5:45 wake up. This morning, the people around me had the pleasure of waking up to the sounds of dogs barking, or my loud alarm. 

Bowerston treated us well for the limited time that we spent there. One of the townsmen caught word of what we were doing this summer, and decided to bring us hot breakfast. He brought us bananas, cereal and eggs. I had a combination of all three of these. 

After having a huge breakfast, we got on the road at 7:00. We then biked a boring and hilly 22 miles to the Tin Shop in Zoar. The tin shop was a Coffee shop that had drinks and sandwiches. I went for the classic pepperoni sandwich.

We then biked 30 more miles. These miles were a lot flatter than the first section, which felt good after such a tiring day yesterday. We stopped at a marathon to get an afternoon snack. I got peanut butter and chexx. This fueled me for my next few miles.

We then biked 20 more miles on a road that was sometimes really hilly and sometimes really flat. Through these miles, I could feel myself getting more tired and even more tired. We finally arrived at El Patron for our lunch. I got a burrito which both tasted really good and filled me up. Finally, we biked our final 10 miles until the camp, which was outside a bike shop. For dinner, we have ordered chipotle in door dash.

Day 8: Hendersonville, PA- Bowerston, OH, 72 miles, Blake Hird

Hey everyone it’s Blake 

Today we had a rather early wake up  at 5:15 which put everyone in a cranky mood including myself but the urge to eat breakfast made the guys have the urgency to pack up and get riding. We started off with a cold breeze which made the first part of the ride sort of unpleasant but we moved quickly to get to Burgestown, in which we stopped to get breakfast at McDonald’s. It was 18 miles away from our camp . We had our food and everyone filled up their water bottles for the day and we moved swiftly and continued with our day. 

As we transitioned back onto the trail we had a slight downhill decline which made the 8 miles we had to get to Boyd Rd very exciting which led us to the rest of the ride. Directly after, we got onto Boyd Rd and we were slammed with a massive hill which seemed to never end and because it was almost halfway into the ride we exerted much energy to get to the peak, but our group conferred and agreed that the descent was quite epic. We had a small ride to the next section of the day which was to pass over Stuebenville and according to our route had many steep elevation climbs. 

We stopped at a gas station before we started our climbs so that everyone could fuel up and after another fast stop we started biking again. The first climb we came across was not only on a highway but was long and steep but luckily there was a shady area at the top that we took a break in. 

The group leaders made calls to different towns to see the availability of the camping options for the night and others had snacks and got ready for the rest of the climbs. As we continued our ride we were immediately hit with another hill on a crowded road in which we had to merge a few times but everyone made it to the top and immense relief was distributed among the group. With every uphill comes a downhill and as we descended we picked up quite a bit of speed and at some points we were going up to 41 mph but at speeds that high turns are easy to miss and unfortunately that’s exactly what happened. 

We turned onto another big hill which twisted around all sides and took almost all of my energy and from there on the ride would be a struggle. We made our way onto the highway and with all the ups and downs made the ride quite difficult we stayed on the highway for about 7 miles and got off and had lunch at a small gas station which seemed to fix the energy deficit of the guys and especially myself. We had 18 miles left and everyone was eager to get going so that we could just pound out the remaining mileage. 

The next 18 we had rolling hills which didn’t seem terrible compared to the other hills we completed today. 

Next we got onto a paved trail that was very nice and was a great way to finish the ride. Evan and Sean got a beautiful place in a open park which everyone is very thankful for. Overall the day was quite hard but in the end, these kinds of days looking back over what you achieved gives you the energy to push forward.
Until next time…Blake

Day 7: Ohiopyle, PA to Hendersonville, PA, 73 miles, Hugh Carbrey

Today we woke up at 6:15, planning to leave at 6:45. However, we ended up leaving at 7:15. To start off the day, we had a 17 mile stint to Conellsville, PA on a very nice bike path. On the very first bump we hit, one of Max’s panniers fell off and slid on the bridge. Then, a few miles later, the whole rack of Wyatt’s bike fell off and dragged a while before we stopped and fixed them. We ate breakfast at a diner that provided cheap, good calories. We then biked 25 miles to West Newton where we stopped at a Rite Aid. After this break, we were then presented with 2 options: to go 11 miles on the bike path, or go 9 miles a much hillier way. Despite being outnumbered, the group advocating for the hillier way prevailed. The hills were tough, but hilarious, as Blake was sharing his thoughts about Max, the main advocate for the hilly way. At the end of the hills, we went onto a state highway. As we were trying not to get doomed by an 18 wheeler, we had to avoid roadkill and other tire popping obstacles.

After we went uphill for a while, we had the pleasure of going down a mile long 8° grade. It was fun, but there were lots of obstacles to dodge, mainly rumble strips and a ton of roadkill. Then we had to ride through an under construction state highway. This was quite sketchy, as a couple times we had to merge into traffic, or sprint across a bridge when there was no traffic.

For lunch, we pulled into Elizabethtown, at an interesting place called the Rum Monkey. It had mostly American food, and the food took forever to arrive. Two of the patrons gave us $40 dollars.

Dining with the locals at the Rum Monkey

The way to the campsite involved a 3 mile road ride to another bike trail. However, these 3 miles were very uphill. Wyatt was put in charge of navigating us toward path. The first hill was very long and steep. When we reached the top, a man on a bright yellow moped stopped us and told us we missed the turn. However, Wyatt and both Daniels didn’t hear this message, so they continued the long descent. Max, Blake and I went back down to meet the adults, and the rest continued. The man in the moped then chased that group down, and told them where to meet the rest of the group. Both groups had a very tough climb to the top of Knight Road. We then descended to the Montour Bike Trail, which was very confusing and busy, making it a tough finish to the day.

Big portions at Vincent’s!

Currently we are eating at Vincent’s restaurant, which has huge portions perfect for recovery.

Day 6: First break day! Ohiopyle, PA, 0 miles, Daniel Price

After a long hard first week of biking and sleeping in tents, we enjoyed our first night in the Falls Market Hostel with warm showers and beds that weren't inflatable mattresses. We took advantage of our new accommodations by sleeping in until 10:30 and spending most of the day sleeping, eating and catching up on our many hours without WiFi. We got breakfast at a small touristy restaurant in the building directly below our hostile, which ended up being the furthest we would actually travel from the hostile all day. After breakfast everyone found there own way to rest. Max and Sean napped for hours, Blake whatever Netflix and other people went on walks. To try and justify our $30 visit Evan cooked pasta for the group and each of us took as many warm showers as we could. We spent the night watching more Netflix and getting ready to head out early tomorrow morning. Everyone feels great and can't wait to get back on our journey.

Falls Market Hostel, Ohiopyle, PA

Day 5: Cumberland MD - Ohiopyle PA, 71 miles, Cole Malinchock

Gradual up hill

Hi all, Cole here with my first blog post! What a day! We officially left Maryland and went through our first pass today through the Allegheny Passage. The day didn't start off well because all of our equipment was covered in dew including some of our sleeping bags and clothes. We had a slow start out of camp and started our first pass day. As I trained for this trip, I heard many stories from my brothers of the steep passes that we would bike up and this made me very anxious to attempt our first pass together today. A pass day is a long day where we go over a ridge between two mountains, usually half of the ride is spent going up while the other half is going down. We split up into 3 different groups before starting the pass, I was with Evan and Sean. At the beginning of the Allegheny Pass, we had a seemingly endless gradual uphill that made it challenging to gain any speed or momentum so my group decided to draft with each other as a team to make it easier.

Clatter Restaurant, Frostburg, MD

Unfortunately, I was too focused on the trail and wasn't able to enjoy the magnificent views as we rode by the farms. After about 17 miles in, we were all hungry and needed some food so we stopped in Frostburg for breakfast. Special thanks to Clatter in Frostburg for an amazing breakfast that filled us up so we could crush the rest of the pass!

Our first glimmer of hope of finishing the up hill battle of the pass was when we crossed the Mason Dixon Line and made it into Pennsylvania, but we still had about 4 more miles until we would begin our down hill. My group rushed to get to the top so we could begin our down hill portion of the pass. As soon as we saw the tunnel for the top, Evan and an older gentleman raced to the top (Evan got there first). We met a great group of cyclists at the top and we were able to discuss our mission for the trip with them. The ride down hill was amazing!! We were able to relax and enjoy the beautiful forest. With help from gravity, we were easily averaging 18 mph without a sweat. We went through large, dark tunnels and crossed high viaducts with magnificent views of the Pennsylvania mountains.

Eastern Continental Divide!!

As I'm sitting in my comfy room at the Falls Market Hostel in Ohiopyle, I'm thinking back over the day and I really appreciate all the kindness we've gotten from strangers. From the kind people in Frostburg to the appreciative cyclists on the pass, we can't thank them enough for listening to our mission and for their support towards the cause. Signing off for now, Cole Malinchock

Mason Dixon Line & a nap

Day 4: Hancock MD- Cumberland MD, 65 miles, Sean Hankins

This morning we woke up in Hancock to a rough morning. Max and Daniel both did not sleep due to a combination of the cold and the bright lights at the campsite. However, Evan got 11 hours of the best sleep of his life. The crew packed up their gear and all drifted over to the SHEETZ across the road. We got Made-To-Order food and ate at the campsite. Sadly, a long bathroom line at SHEETZ gave us a late start to the day. We entered back onto our pavement trail for about fifteen miles. Blake joined Cole, Evan, and I in the lead group for a short bit before dropping back to join the next group. Our group biked at Mach force speeds to a change in the trail. This is where it shifted from pavement to a double-wide gravel trail. The paved trail is much easier and faster to ride on, so in an effort to stay on the nice trails, we decided to take a turn. Cole, Evan, and I stumbled upon an abandoned train tunnel. While we approached the tunnel, we thought we were just going to be able to take some cool pictures and see a cool sight. As we got closer, I started to hear movement inside the tunnel, and a faint almost giggle-like sound in the tunnel. I didn’t speak out because I didn’t want to scare anyone for something I just thought I heard and be THAT guy. But as we got closer, we all started to notice the sound as we took photos. It sounded almost like an owl with a different tone. The sounds never interrupted us, and always started up after our voices echoed into the tunnel. We all took notice to the fact that no owl could have fit into the tunnel through the gate that was blocking its entrance, and no lights could be seen in the long tunnel. After Cole and I took one last handstand picture, we hightailed it out of there after hearing the loudest and creepiest laughter so far. Evan then enriched us with common phenomenon and paranormal activities that occurs in the mountains near West Virginia. Our trail was a dead end, but we figured our way back to the main group. We stayed on a small path with lots of potholes and mud puddles. We ended this trail with a dark tunnel through a mountain that followed a river. All you could see were upcoming potholes within 5 feet in front of you, but our lights had difficulties and were set to strobe. We then took a small break and split in a town called Paw Paw. My group moved to the next town to enjoy a small lunch at a diner made into an old school. The graduating classes started in the early 1900s and were never larger than 80. The remaining groups then joined in after we had enjoyed classic soft serve and diner style food. Cole, Evan, and I once again began biking to our final destination to Cumberland, a city with a nice YMCA that we could have spent the night at. Our group decided to take a detour off of muddy trails and ride a road named Old Town Rd to the city. After some large 8 percent grade climbs, we enjoyed a nice stop at an Amish store that contained a fellow biker who had experience bike packing and knew the trails ahead. We also got to have a nice 8 percent downhill, which we knew thanks to a runaway truck stop on the hill. This hill gave us a maximum speed for the day of 39.4 mph. The city of Cumberland was not as great as we hoped. It didn’t contain any camping sites because the YMCA was closed due to COVID. We had to make the difficult choice of choosing how far we were willing to bike to stay the night. As the other groups joined us in Cumberland, we got to enjoy a bike wash and a nice dinner thanks to Mr. Murphy. Calls to numerous town officials were made, but we eventually found a volunteer fire department three miles away. They welcomed us with outlets and a hose to wash with, all within walking distance of a SHEETZ. Sadly, we are without any internet connection, and I am currently writing this blog while using SHEETZ WiFi on their lawn. This day was one of the most memorable, and it could change even more if a house fire causes the fire trucks to leave our campsite in the middle of the night.

Day 3: 63 Miles- Harpers Ferry, WV to Hancock, MD - Daniel Gulisano

Today we woke up later than usual because it was raining, and we got going a little after 7. We were all happy to leave Harpers Ferry after the series of unfortunate events that took place yesterday. We rode to a town with a Sheetz and a cafe. At the cafe some guys got huge breakfasts that fueled them well. As for myself I helped myself to the Sheetz.

Towpath Riding

The whole day we were on towpaths and split up into groups. It was more relaxing and we passed a few dams, but the trail started to get quite bumpy. For lunch, we stopped at the Sheetz in a town called Williamsport. This is when I was the first to discover the magnificence of Sheetz Made to Order. I ordered an Italian sub and it put me in the right mentality for the afternoon. We proceeded to ride about 25 miles after lunch to where we were staying, a pretty town called Hancock.

Potomac River

We’re spending the night in a park pavilion and some of the guys are cowboying (sleeping outside with only your pad and sleeping bag), but I won’t be because of my fear of the outdoors. Luckily there’s a Sheetz across the street from where we’re sleeping. I think I’m going 3/3 on the Sheetz for today. Can’t wait for another day of towpaths. Gulisano signing off.

Day 2: 55 Miles -Taylorsville, MD to Harper’s Ferry, WV - Max Hird

Today we woke up extra early at 5:15 to avoid the brutal heat in the afternoon.  We planned to bike around 45 miles but as you’ll see later in our blog, things didn’t exactly go to plan.  On our way to breakfast, we got to see a beautiful sunrise brightening the farmland around us.  After biking about 12 miles, we stopped for breakfast at a Safeway grocery store.  I spent the majority of our breakfast stop waiting in line for the bathroom, just another thing to look forward to for the bike trip.  After about 30 minutes, we saddled up to make our way towards our lunch break.

Evan Looking Good!

We stopped at mile 35 for lunch at a place called Point of Rocks (a great name) to meet with the Malinchock’s grandparents.  We were very thankful that they brought us Jimmy Johns and some ice cold drinks.  After eating, we took a long break in the shade to cool down a bit and departed to finish off the ride.

The majority of our afternoon riding consisted of a flat and straight towpath (not the most interesting riding but definitely very chill).  We were very lucky to stumble across a man riding a bike of his own dressed only in something that could be described as less than a loin cloth.  After passing this man, Evan unfortunately had a flat tire.  fortunately, we got to see the man once again as he passed us in all of his glory.  After fixing the flat, we pushed out the last few miles to the Harper’s Ferry bridge.

Harpers Ferry Bridge

Once arriving at the bridge, to our disappointment, we found that the bridge was closed due to a train derailment.  This caused a serious issue because this was the only safe way into town.  Thanks to my killer eyesight, I was able to spot a way to climb up the rock wall leading to the road above that would bring us to the alternative route.  Creating a fire brigade of bikers, we were able to pass our bikes and panniers up to the road above and move on our way.  Our new detour added about 10 miles to our ride and boy were they hilly.

Bike Fire Brigade

We finished our ride on a pretty sketchy highway and everyone was pretty tired from all of the hill climbing on the way to town.  We found a great campsite with showers, bathrooms and power which made up for the hours beforehand.  Everyone got cleaned up and headed into town for dinner.  I had french fries covered in pork.  We all plan to hit the hay rather early for another awesome day of riding. Until tomorrow…

Camping in Harpers Ferry, WV/MD/VA

Day 1: 70 Miles - Havre de Grace, MD to Taylorsville, MD - Wyatt Benjamin

4300+ ft elevation gain! Well, well welcome to the first day of the bike trip!

Today we planned on leaving the campsite at 6:30 AM., however overnight decided that it would be a good idea to start the day earlier than that. Blake and I set the record for packing up all of our clothes and taking down our tent. We started at 5:43 (one of the early risers woke both of us up), and took less than 30 minutes! We finished way before the leaving time of 630, due to another fellow scout (Daniel) helping finish with the tents.

Tire dip in the Atlantic

After doing the ritual of tire dipping, we went to Wawa’s, a huge gas station. On our way, after a few miles of biking, we hit a wall (really long hill that seems to never end). At Wawa’s, I went with the classic banana and cinnamon roll. We left the Wawa’s and started riding again. 

The hills of Maryland

Just a side note, thank you Shell and Pizza and Subs for giving us free water!

A few miles after we left Pizza and Subs, we had our first flat tire of the trip. Hugh hit a pothole (43 miles in), which caused the incident. We then traveled another eight miles to Weis for lunch. I feasted on Snyders honey mustard and onion nibblers, a popsicle and a huge pink lady apple.

Flat fix #1

A few miles after we departed from Weis, we biked a few more miles until Daniel hit a big rock, which caused the second flat of the day (55 miles in). After we finished the hill that we were on, we went off to the side,  and realized that Hughes tire was flat as well. At 56 miles, this was our third flat of the day. 

Flat fix #2

We slogged through the last 15 miles and capped off the day in a 7/11. 

After a mile ride, we found ourselves at the house that we are staying the night in for. Huge thanks to Briann and Kristie Richards for letting us stay the night at their House.

Signing off...

Day -2: Blog Practice

As we prepare for Launch on Tuesday, we asked the crew for some thoughts ahead of the ride...

1.    What part of the bike route are you most interested to ride and why?

[Hugh]  I am most interested to ride the middle parts of the route, like North Dakota and Michigan. Although I have been to these states, I am excited to see what life is like in the small towns there, and what biking is like in those places. I am also excited for the mountainous parts of the route, even though it will be tough. 

[Cole] I'm most looking forward to biking through North Dakota. I've heard so much about it from my brothers, yet not many people go, so I want to go experience it for myself.

[Max]  I am most interested for riding through North Dakota because it seems like a very cool place with pretty scenery.  I also think that North Dakota has a very different feel to it compared to Chapel Hill which I am excited to experience.  

[Sean]  I am most excited about the coasts on our trip because it will be the only times we see the beach this year. They also mark the beginning and ending of our trip. 

[Wyatt]  The part of the ride I find most interesting is the fact that we are using panniers. I find this the most interesting because this is different than how we have been riding.

[Daniel G.]  I'm most interested to ride the west coast portion because the scenery will be very pretty and new to me, and we have some big climbs in store for us. Also, my dad and brother will be joining us for that portion so I'm sure it'll be nice to see them again. Lastly, we'll be on the home stretch and I would have gotten a lot out of the trip. 

[Janet]  I'm looking forward to seeing many places on the trip, particularly the Washington mountains and water.  But, two weeks into the trip, a section of the ride takes us serendipitously within a mile of family. I hope we'll have a chance to see them, even if only briefly.

[Mike]  I’ll be looking for the quintessential spot, where looking out over my handlebars I see two yellow lines running perfectly parallel all the way to the horizon.  When I turn to look back the view is a mirror image.  This means I’ve arrived in middle America under my own power, riding on nothing but some pieces of steel and rubber.

2.  With only a couple days before the start, what thoughts and feelings are going through your mind?

[Max]  I am very excited to depart on the trip because I truly have nothing to do anymore and have become very bored.  I am sad I won’t be seeing lots of my friends and family over the summer but I plan to keep in touch.

[Wyatt]  I have many thoughts and feelings before leaving on the trip. The main feelings that I feel are excitement and readiness. My thought is “can we leave yet”.

[Sean]  With only days before the start of our journey, I am getting even more prepared and thrilled. I am not excited to be without showers, but I will be able to represent an amazing organization with a once in a lifetime experience.

[Daniel G.]  I was nervous last week but over the past few days it has really set in that I'm doing it. Also, I'm very lucky to do the ride with this group of guys that I trust a lot. Lastly, riding with a cause that I'm more familiar with and I can get behind will surely motivate me the whole trip. 

[Janet]  I'm excited to be riding with this crew, as many are towards the end of their high school years and this is one of their last big trips together before heading to college.  I am also grateful I have the health and physical ability to ride, as I am just recovering from an injury.  

[Hugh]  I am feeling nervous but excited. I am nervous because biking almost everyday for most of the summer is very tough to prepare for, but I am excited to spend time with the crew and see a lot of cool stuff.

[Cole]  I'm anxious to get started but I'm also psyched about it! We've all trained for over 1,000 miles and are just ready to get started!

[Mike]  For several years, I have heard plenty of stories about bike trips.  Listening to my sons, I would imagine and paint pictures in my mind of what it would be like.  My mind has now reached its limit on painting these imaginary scenes and seems to be saying, “no more, let’s just see what its really like”.

3.  What most impresses you about the Be Loud! Sophie cause?

[Daniel G.]  I think one of the things that impressed me the most was that the Be Loud! Sophie foundation funds the position at UNC 100%, so that the specialist can have creative control and really follow Sophie's vision. I was also impressed by the fact that this is one of the only programs in the US that targets teens and young adults, so I think it's important for us as a crew to spread awareness about the emotional struggles of cancer as a young adult, and the benefit of having a specialist.

[Wyatt]  There are many things that impress me about Be Loud Sophie. The thing that impresses me the most about Be Loud Sophie is that it was all created by a teenager, and that it is still thriving in today’s world.

[Hugh]  What impresses me most is how despite being sick in the hospital, Sophie was still trying to improve the lives of the patients that came before her. I was also impressed how her parents were able to turn her vision in reality, and are continuing to improve the lives of young adult patients who were previously somewhat underserved compared to children and older patients. 

[Max]  I am most impressed by how thoughtful was towards teens and young adults with cancer.  I feel that her idea to begin this organization was very courageous and thoughtful especially given that she herself was also sick.  I am very excited to support Be Loud! Sophie and bike for such a great group.

[Cole]  Be Loud! Sophie is a very impressive foundation that always strives to spread Sophie's ideas. Even though it's only in UNC, it's a very important and often overlooked part of cancer treatment for adolescents across the country. I hope to help spread the word about it, to inspire more people to create foundations like it, and to be loud!

[Sean]  What impressed me about Be Loud! Sophie is how much of its support goes directly into its cause. With other organizations, they use fundraised money for different uses, not just their purpose.

[Mike]  Talking to everyone involved in the foundation has really opened my eyes to the incredible work and results that can be achieved through Social Workers.  In the past when I heard about diagnoses, hospitals and patients, I would naturally think of doctors and nurses doing amazing things.  Having a chance to hear how Be Loud! Sophie emphasizes and prioritizes the social aspects of working with adolescents and young adults makes me realize how powerful someone helping to make decisions or advocating or just listening can be in providing patient care.

[Janet]  I am so impressed that Sophie had the vision to create a program that helps teens and young adults facing an overwhelming illness to stay true to themselves. The Steiners have done a fantastic job of staying true to bringing that vision to fruition.